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Still Poppin’

Process Popcorn Snacks with Ease

AC Horn Manufacturing, a worldwide leader in manufacturing processing equipment for the snack food industry, announces its participation in Gulfood 2016 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Horn will be displaying popcorn processing equipment and systems in booth S1-A48 as part of KayDee Solutions, LLC.

Horn will be displaying the following equipment:

The M419 Popper enables the operator to pop up to 90 kg/hr of popcorn using hot air. Kernels pass through the cabinet via a screw auger in an automated process that allows for easy operation and low maintenance. Equipped with the latest PLC controls and highest quality components available, popcorn processing equipment from Horn offers operators durable, reliable equipment with superior capacity and popping ratios.

The M419-6000 Sifter, operated inline with M419 Popper, sifts undersized and unpopped kernels away from finished product. This sifting generally removes approximately three percent of total popped product for 97 percent product retention. Popped corn is ready for seasoning or coating with caramel or other sweet slurries, then packaging.

The M320-K Cooker/Coater offers operators the versatility to produce multiple varieties of specialty popcorn, such as caramel corn, cheese-coated popcorn or other flavors, in addition to kettle corn or oil-popped popcorn. Our proprietary design ensures even coating for product consistency. Analog controls make the system easy to operate using preset or customizable recipes. Pop up to 57 kg/hr, depending on the product, in either an industrial or retail setting.

“We are excited to exhibit our snack food processing equipment at Gulfood in Dubai. Light, healthy snacks such as popcorn or caramel corn can be enjoyed anywhere in the world. Caramel corn has a simple ingredient list and it is easy to make sure it fits halal,” said Michael Horn, president of AC Horn Manufacturing. “There is great upside potential for popcorn snacks in particular, with Euromonitor International predicting the global popcorn sector to grow to $10.8 billion by 2018.”

“The operator entering the snack food market or expanding their business opportunities within the snack arena can rely on Horn for reliable equipment designed to last for decades.”

Global Snacking Phenomenon

Snacking is so entrenched in our society now it’s no longer a trend but the new national pastime. Nearly all Americans (94%) snack at least once a day, according to recently published Mintel data. And the frequency of snack occasions is increasing. Half of all adults (50%) report they snack two to three times per day.

Americans aren’t the only ones snacking—it is truly a global phenomenon with Nielsen reporting the global snack market topping $374 billion in sales. And nuts ands seeds as ingredients feature prominently within this snack segment. According to Innova Market Insights nuts and seeds accounted for more than 37 percent of global snack food launches in 2013 and nuts’ share within the snack category continues to grow.

Another product experiencing phenomenal sales within snacking is ready-to-eat (RTE) popcorn. The RTE popcorn/caramel corn category, according to IRI, witnessed sales increases of 18.17% in a single year (May 2015 compared to May 2014). Multiple individual brands saw sales of their products skyrocket more than 100% during this time period, contributing to the impressive overall category sales increase.

Part of the reason behind an improved outlook for nuts and popcorn is the emphasis on healthy snacking. Driving this growth for better-for-you (BFY) snacks are Millennials and Generation Z—the demographic cluster of those ages 23 and younger. These combined population segments have positive attitudes about snacking, a desire to eat more healthfully and a need for convenience.

Both nuts and popcorn fit into this BFY snack trend perfectly. RTE popcorn, with its low calorie count, is an almost guilt-free food. The health benefits of various types of nuts are well-known. Nuts are popular eaten alone, or incorporated into nutrition bars or trail mix. Trail mix combines ingredients consumers perceive as healthy, such as nuts, seeds and fruit, or can include a touch of chocolate for a grand slam win.

AC Horn Manufacturing manufactures quality equipment for efficient processing or production of nuts, seeds, popcorn and kettle corn to allow manufacturers to take advantage of these growing market segments. Selecting the right piece of equipment for processing nuts and seeds, or for popcorn is crucial to maintaining profit margins and ensuring that a quality product is going out the door. Improve your throughput with a piece of reliable equipment designed to last for decades.

AC Horn Manufacturing debuts new website

DALLAS – Launch of the AC Horn Manufacturing website is a milestone in a new era of management and growth at the company. The site is not only the new digital interface for AC Horn; it also introduces a corporate rebranding. Michael Douglas Horn, Jr., AC Horn president, who moved into his post about six months ago says, “This is a pivotal time for our company. The corporate rebrand and new website represent the beginning of a strategic growth plan for our business. We’re positioning ourselves to expand along with the growth in the global snack market.”

With more than a century of manufacturing experience, AC Horn is poised for expansion at a time when the world is snacking more than ever before. “Consumers are snacking in lieu of eating three meals a day. This is driving healthy snack introductions,” explains Horn. “Our popcorn equipment and nut roasters are ideal for making healthy snacks to meet the demands of consumers today and tomorrow.”